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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has waded into the leadership crisis in Ehiozevbaru community in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State, assuring it will be resolved peacefully.
Three Benin palace chiefs, Moses Iyamu, the Ezama of Benin, Oseazegioba Ikpomwonsa and Chief Uyi Esere, the Esere of Uselu, conveyed the Oba’s assurance to protesting members of the community in his palace in Benin City. They said due diligence would be followed in resolving the conflict presented in separate statements by some aggrieved indigenes of the community.
One of the elders in Ehiozevbaru village, Humphrey Agbonavbare, explained that the passive resistance to the excesses of Mr. Sunday Ediagbonya, self-acclaimed Odionwere (village head), reached a tipping point after Ediagbonya allegedly failed to account for the development fund of the village running into millions of naira which was kept in his custody.
He listed other atrocities against Ediagbonya to include, missing ancestral staff at Ehiozevbaru elders porch and alleged bestiality reportedly committed by one of his children in the village.
Agbonavbare, the Ozukpogieva, who is second most senior elder in the village, explained that these unlawful acts made most of the elders of the village to severe their relationship with Ediagbonya.
Agbonavbare who pledged his loyalty to the Oba of Benin, also alleged that the self-acclaimed Odionwere had neither attained the position of Odionwere nor performed the necessary rites as required by Benin customs and tradition.
Responding, Ediagbonya accused some disgruntled elements in the village of being responsible for his travails, adding that his suspension was done partly through deception to usurp a constituted authority.
